What's in a Name?

Repuke, Repug, RINO, Right Wingnut, Libtard, Teabag**, Obamatards, Socialist, Racist, Left Wingnut, Wack-O-Birds, a host of variants, and  vulgar and four letter words, which makes it clear that a number of people suffer from a lack of vocabulary, can be found on most any blog, Facebook page,Twitter feed, television site, or news site. The sites can be Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Tea Party, Independent, anti-gun control, pro-gun control, pro-healthcare, anti-healthcare, or any other kind of page with just a single political statement.  And what do all these derogatory names have in common -- they spread hate in what should be an exchange of point-of-view and ideas.

You have the right to comment.  You even have the right to use the most vile derogatory names.  You have the right to swear and label entire groups.  But if you do, you have lost the argument.  It is also considered and defined as the lowest of the seven forms used to spread propaganda. So in doing so, you have become the propaganda mouthpiece for one agenda driven group or another.  Congratulations on your promotion.  It's kind of like the rule that first appeared on social networks, Godwin's Law.  It states that in an argument that becomes heated and goes long enough someone will eventually bring up Hitler.  Whoever does this, automatically loses the argument.  Something, by the way, you might want to consider next time you post one of those memes comparing your "favorite" politician to the monster that was Adolf Hitler.

I am not saying that there aren't places to use names for folks who are clearly living in a different reality. There are humorous, or at least I find them humorous terms for them like tinfoil hats or Wack-a-doodles.  These are not terms that particularly attack one group or another but  fits an individual.  We all know of or have a Wack-a-doodle in our lives.  I've blogged about them.  There is clearly no logic to what they believe, although there is little doubt that they believe it. They accept whatever the internet spews forth without question or research.  They also tend to live on a single type of site that will support their belief system.  Although truth be told, calling someone a moronic fool or idiot probably won't do much in your argument, even if the labels are true.  Wack-a-doodles seldom realize that they are Wack-a-doodles.

I enjoy comments.  I also will delete any that use foul language or name calling as a method of argument. That's my right.  I don't do it because I'm a prude or can't take a derogatory name, I do it because there is enough divisive hate on the internet.  If you want to bring something up that has nothing to do with a post, is also pretty much a dead give away that you've got nothing.  Let me put it this way.  If you read about an article about the ACA (Obamacare) and instantly attack Obama for the talking points on Syria or attack Republicans for their blocking the vote, you are losing.  The article has nothing to do with Syria or the block the vote.  It is about the ACA. (It's also probably not a good idea to announce how much your insurance is going up and then say you refuse to go on the healthcare website because you hate the ACA and refuse to prove yourself right.)

The problem is that too many of the groups you may be frequenting is that these groups have convinced you this is the way to win arguments.  It  isn't.  Calling names is the way six-year-olds fight.  Hence the old saying "sticks and stones." Calling a name is childish.  It is also hateful.  Anouncing that you hate Obama or Boehner or that they are the worst ever is not an argument, it is the equivalent of the "nuh uh/uh uh" argument.

Show your support.  Show your dissent.  Do it though by being on topic and as you tell a child, by "using your words".  If your one of those who use the name calling, you are spreading the hate.

Stop the hate.